Endoscopic Gastric Mucosal Ablation as a Primary Obesity Therapy

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity, Adiposity

In brief

This study is intended to investigate safety and feasibility of a new weight loss technique called endoscopic Gastric Mucosal Ablation (GMA) that does not require surgery, but can be achieved using an endoscopic procedure. Previous studies have suggested that weight loss after vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is partly due to the removal of normal stomach tissue suspected of having hormonal function. The study will investigate the minimally invasive treatment of obesity by means of argon plasma coagulation (APC) in combination with waterjet submucosal injection using HybridAPC. As primary objective total body weight loss (TBWL) will be determined as body weight difference at the 6 months follow up (FU) visit after the last treatment session in comparison to the body weight prior to the initial treatment. After signing the informed consent the doctor and research team will determine if the participant meets all requirements for this study. If a participant is confirmed to be a suitable candidate additional tests will be performed prior to the first application of GMA to assess the health status of the participant prior to treatment. During the screening and baseline visit the medical history and the medications of the participant will be reviewed. After the treatments the participants will be followed for up to 12 months to assess the outcome of the GMA procedure.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT05486338
Run by: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH
People needed: 15
Starts: 2023-09-05
Expected to finish: 2025-07-18
Last updated by the study team: 2026-06-17

Who can join

Age: 22 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Male or females patients in the range of class I to class III obesity (BMI ≥ 30 to ≤ 40 with obesity-related comorbidity or BMI > 40 to BMI ≤ 45).
Age 22 - 60 yrs.
Treatment naïve for bariatric surgery or endoscopic bariatric therapy
Agree to avoid any use of weight loss medications such as Meridia, Saxenda, Januvia, Xenical, Duromine or over the counter weight loss medications or supplements throughout the study.
Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use acceptable contraception methods.
Agree not to donate blood during their participation in the study.
Able to comply with study requirements and understand and sign the Informed Consent Form.
Stable weight defined as a fluctuation of less than 5% for at least 3 months prior to screening visit.
History of failure to lose weight using conventional diet and lifestyle therapies.

You may not qualify if…

Patients requiring exogenous insulin.
HbA1c > 8.5 %
Pregnant or breast-feeding or intending to get pregnant during the study.
Unwilling or unable to complete the Visual Analogue Scale for pain assessment, patient questionnaires, or comply with study visits and other study procedures as required per protocol.
History of diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar nonketotic coma.
Probable insulin production failure, defined as fasting C-Peptide serum < 1 ng/mL (333 pmol/l).
Previous use of any types of insulin for > 1 month (at any time, except for treatment of gestational diabetes).
Change in diabetic treatment within the last three months.
Use of glucose-lowering drugs for diabetes mellitus treatment with the exception of sulfonylurea (SU), biguanides and sodium dependent glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.
Change of diabetes medication or doses 12 weeks prior to screening visit.
Hypoglycemia unawareness or a history of severe hypoglycemia (more than 1 severe hypoglycemic event, as defined by need for third-party-assistance, in the last year).
Known autoimmune disease, including but not limited to celiac disease, or pre-existing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma or other autoimmune connective tissue disorder.
Previous upper GI surgery, or other endoscopic bariatric procedures or conditions, prior intra-gastric balloon or another gastric implant.
History of diabetic gastroparesis.
Known active hepatitis or active liver disease.
Acute gastrointestinal illness in the previous 7 days.
Known history irritable bowel syndrome, radiation enteritis or other inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease.
Known history of a structural or functional disorder of the esophagus that may impede passage of the device through the gastrointestinal tract or increase risk of esophageal damage during an endoscopic procedure, including Barrett's esophagus, esophagitis, dysphagia, achalasia, stricture/stenosis, esophageal varices, esophageal diverticula, esophageal perforation, or any other disorder of the esophagus.
Known history of a structural or functional disorder of the esophagus, including any swallowing disorder, esophageal chest pain disorders, or drug refractory esophageal reflux symptoms.
Known history of a structural or functional disorder of the stomach including gastroparesis, gastric ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastric varices, hiatal hernia (>3 cm), cancer or any other disorder of the stomach.
Known history of chronic symptoms suggestive of a structural or functional disorder of the stomach, including any symptoms of chronic upper abdominal pain, chronic nausea, chronic vomiting, chronic dyspepsia or symptoms suggestive of gastroparesis, including post-prandial fullness or pain, post-prandial nausea or vomiting or early satiety.
Currently have ongoing symptoms suggestive of intermittent small bowel obstruction, such as recurrent bouts of post-prandial abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
Active H. pylori infection (Subjects with active H. pylori may continue with the screening process if they are treated with an appropriate antibiotic regimen, and eradication has been confirmed).
History of coagulopathy, upper gastrointestinal bleeding conditions such as ulcers, gastric varices, strictures, congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia.
Current use of anticoagulation therapy

Where it is running

Mayo Clinic — Jacksonville, Florida, United States
True You Weight Loss — Cary, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.